Al Green – Don't Look Back
BMG, RCA – 74321 16310 2
CD, Album, Europe, 1993
Today is my wife's birthday. She's turning one of those ages that people notice, that might provoke you to do a little assessing of where you're at in life... or make you a little self conscious about whether you've become "old." I've never been an expert at keeping her from worrying, but, for whatever it's worth, here's my reflection.
She has become happier, healthier and stronger over the last 10 years. She is at once both infinitely more mature than then me and far more full of life, taking on new challenges and adventures adventures at both home and work (when she could have slowing down and sinking into easier routines at either). She can be shy and hates being embarrassed more than anything in the world… but focusing on that can make it easy to miss that she's also become damn near fearless.
One of the few joys I've found hidden behind all the tensions and trauma that the pandemic era has left piled all around, has been the time I've had in this house with her. Time spend together and the love and happiness I've watched her bring to our children as she's done everything to turn this place into a refuge for them and their intense, strange and beautiful lives. I feel very lucky for opportunities to steal glimpses of her doing her job as we've both largely worked from home.
We worked together for years, and now many years apart. During that time, I think we both came to appreciate much more clearly what the other brought to our organizations and movement. What I lost sight of though, was how much she had also changed, taking on new roles, pushing herself and others, in ways I'd never seen. Even after all these years, she remains the person I learn from every day. I watch her be consistent and creative. Caring, but tougher than anything that gets in her way. The most reliable person I've ever known and someone who continues to learn and change.
No one who can keep you on your toes, surprise and push you like that, should waste much time worrying about being "old."
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Don't Look Back probably doesn't pop up in many lists of Al Green's greatest albums and I wouldn't suggest holding your breath for some hipster record label to give it the deluxe reissue treatment anytime soon, which is a shame. It's not one of his Southern soul classics or great gospel recordings, but this 1993 gem has become one of my go to albums when I need a little light shined on the world for me. I mean... eight out of thirteen songs include the word "love" in their titles. So whatever it lacks in subtlety, it makes up for with shameless evangelizing for love, hope and a little dancing.
Al Green's is still sounding great, but over a set of modern soul, house and almost pop disco tracks. There are threads back to his classics woven into the music (provided in part by the presence of the Memphis Horns on the majority of tracks), but you definitely won't mistake this for any lost Hi Records cuts from the 70s. Almost half the album is produced by the Arthur Baker. (Not bad making it from Afrika Bambaataa to New Order to Al Green in a few short years!) The team of Andy Cox and David Steele, formerly of the (English) Beat and, by this point, the Fine Young Cannibals, produced the remaining tracks. So the late 80s/early 90s pop soul credentials are solid, but there are some real funk chops in the mix as well: legendary drummer Bernard Purdie appears on three tracks, as does regular bass hero of this website, Doug Wimbish. Nice guitar and percussion work is in the mix (especially on the Steele and Cox produced tracks) and many talented backing singers pop in for a tune or two. The music was recorded at almost a dozen different studios (including
Compass Point, mentioned in the recent Grace Jones post), but instead of the album being a forgettable mess, it's held together with some solid songwriting and, of course, Green's strong vocals.
Do some songs sound a little dated? Sure. Is it one of Al Green's greatest works? No, but to be fair- if you went through your entire record collection, how many albums by anyone would rate against Al Green's greatest?
The Bernard Purdie led funk beat of Waiting On You, with it's guitar workout and those organ and horn stabs is a track that should not wind up completely lost to time. Love Is A Beautiful Thing, What Does It Take, and You Are My Everything are all really good songs that deserve a spot in your head's Al Green Songbook. 2022 has been off to a hell of a start. As I try to recover and find release from a couple stressful weeks that were packed with the year's first work action, COVID worries and politicians sacrificing health and education for their egos, well I'd love to imagine the Covid-safe club that's playing Keep On Pushing Love and Love In Motion to work the dance floor and push out some of the cynicism that the world threatens to put in our heads.
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For ML, of course...
Tracklist
1 Best Love
2 Love Is A Beautiful Thing
3 Waiting On You
4 What Does It Take
5 Keep On Pushing Love
6 You Are My Everything
7 One Love
8 People In The World (Keep On Lovin' You)
9 Give It Everything
10 Your Love (Is More Than I Ever Hoped For)
11 Fountain Of Love
12 Don't Look Back
13 Love In Motion
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Tried to get the mp3s but looks like double dis Grace Jones???
ReplyDeleteLinks repaired! Sorry about that. Somehow I had the right address in the text, but had it steering you to the wrong place if you clicked. Should all be working now. Let me know what you think!
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